Dutch Henry Cabernet Sauvignon 2003: Review

Napa Valley

Chafen Vineyards

14.6% abv

Pulled this bottle from the cellar and it seemed a bit on the cool side on the temperature scale. I opened it and pour a glass and the feel is on the cool side.  The aroma was dark berry like and the taste was muted by the cool temperature but, seemed like mix berry and a touch of earth.  Time to let this bottle warm up and open up. 

Aroma: Blackberry, black licorice, soil, oak

Flavors: 99% dark chocolate, blackberry bite, dried brown spice

Mouthfeel: the tannins are whistling Dixie here. Super dry and 99% dark chocolate like aftertaste.  

Just grabbed a small piece of 99% dark chocolate and let it melt in the mouth.  Yes, that dry dark chocolate bitterness is real similar to this wine. 

Chateau Bianca 2008 Pinot Noir: Review

13% abv

$15.30 Everyday Wines

Willamette Valley

Chateau Biance, Inc

Dallas, Oregon, USA

Chateaubianca.com

Wow, I didn't take a picture. 

Appearance: ruby red

Aroma: spice box front and center on the nose, Bing cherry,

Flavors: Bing Cherry, red berry mix, and an herbal-spice blend

Mouthfeel: a bit of a flannel like texture with lingering berry notes and that hard describe herbal-spice stuff is on the aftertaste.

My Strength Rating: 5

Next Day

Aroma: nice red berries and cherry on the nose but swirl that glass and the spice box note is right there. 

Flavors: the cherry-berry flavor seems better and the berry flavor comes across more like red raspberries.  That herbal-spice note that I just could not describe is still there but, is more settle.  So, let’s say the alcohol spice has burned off with the bottle sitting an extra day. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – a smidge smoother

Yesterday, all I could say was ‘not bad.’  This also means ‘not good.’  So, it was just okay yesterday.  Today, I say, ‘pretty good.’  So, it is just short of good today, ah, a little improvement. 

Dealing with the issue of drinking your wine the next day is important.  Some people just leave their bottle of wine just sitting around in the kitchen till the next day.  Oh, no no no … place that bottle back into your cellar or just place it in the basement were it is cool. Your kitchen is warm and this could bring out the bitter notes the next day.  So, yes your open bottle of wine that is going to be saved for the next day should be stored properly. 

Also, finish your wine the next day.  You may be lucky to get two or three days out of your open bottle.  I like to finish the bottle the next day.  My Dad use to say, ‘Son you are buying the wrong kind of wine.  My bottle will last up to a week.’  #1 my Dad did not have taste buds.  He drank day old coffee in the morning.  #2  he bought cheap wine.  Wines filled with preservatives and cane sugars.  Which brings up the issue of truth in labeling in the wine industry but, let’s save that for another day.

Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir: Review

Coster Vineyard

Russian River Valley

Vision Cellars

Rutherford, California, USA

14.2% abv

$42.00 a bottle

Visit visioncellars.com and read about the owners interesting story.

Appearance: ruby pinot color with a light amber edge

Aroma: big summertime plum, touch of berries, and a hint of spice.  Delicate bouquet.

Flavors: dark cherry adds a nice sweetness, plum helps to lighten up the body, black raspberry, a Dr. Pepper quality, nice light touch of spice.

Mouthfeel: velvety smooth, perfect for a relaxing evening.  Lingering berry/cherry notes.  Tannins are light. 

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – velvety, silky, satiny whatever you want to call it’s just damn smooth – I’ll just say it is just plain sexy. 

You want to impress your date or mate, buy this bottle.  Just don’t forget to open it.  And, that is easy – it is a twist off.

93 pts. Wine Spectator

91 pts. Wine Enthusiast

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

Fess Parker 2008 Pinot Noir: Review

Santa Barbara County

14.5% abv

$29.00 a bottle

Fess Parker Winery

Santa Maria, California, USA

Fessparker.com

 

Aroma: berry bowl mix, spice, and I am picking up the alcohol.

Flavors: I really have to agree with the description on the bottle, which does not happen very often.  Actually, I have found that Fess Parker Winery does a pretty good job with their descriptions.  Here it is, “Bursting with flavors of spice, cranberry, light blueberry, and strawberry, …”  I thought the strawberry and cranberry notes were right on.  The spice seemed delicate but hiding behind some of the alcohol.  Little touch of pink peppercorn and faint oak.

Mouthfeel: smooth delivery, light but bright body, nice lingering berries on the palate.

I had a glass of this wine before dinner with sourdough crackers with Gouda and goat cheeses and another glass with dinner – pomegranate lamb chops topped with goat cheese and parsley.

Four hours later I popped that cork to have another glass.  Wow, the aroma is really different and with the first sip … this tastes different than earlier.

Aroma: The spice has really opened up: Sage, faint white pepper, light ginger, and every now and then a whiff of roasted vanilla. The spice is stealing the show on the nose. 

Hit the spice cabinet and smell the different spices and see what you experience. 

Flavors: toasted vanilla, light oak, faint black licorice, black currant, cranberry, the strawberry is not standing out front and center like it did on the first glass, which I had before dinner.  I am not detecting the alcohol on the flavor.

Mouthfeel: now the alcohol warmth seems to be on the finish.  Rich, smooth, wow tasty, and the light body is raised just a notch.

So, the question is which glass of wine is the real Fess Parker Pinot Noir?  Then, which one do I like the best?  I guess I’ll have to buy another bottle and make a decision then.

To the Point: this is a sexy and tasty Pinot Noir. Very tasty berry notes and when the wine opens up the complexity is just wonderful.  I would give it an A if I was into grading wines.

And, I made it back to The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan to pick up two more bottles.

Preparing the Palate: Apples

With summer slowly approaching (I live in Michigan) it is time to prepare to enjoy some white wines.  One tasting note that you will see in white wines can be the flavor of apples.  It has a Granny Smith apple taste or this wine has a fresh cut apple aroma. 

It is time to visit your local store and pick up a variety of apples.  Pick up a Fugi, Honey Crisp, Golden and/or Red Delicious, Jazz, and sample each one for its unique flavor and texture.  This is a fun activity to add to your next wine tasting party or even a fun day with the kids.  Have each person write down their flavor description and texture experience to each apple. 

Sampling these fruits on a regular base can help you to prepare your palate when trying to review your favorite white wine. 

Antonio Sanguineti 2008: Review

Nessun Dorma

A Supertuscan

Blend: 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, Syrah 20%

13.5% abv

Toscana, Italy

Appearance: deep purple with a ruby rim.

Aroma: light dark cherries with a little herbal note

Flavors: nice fruit forward notes of dark cherry, blueberry, black raspberry jam. There is a soft mossy earth note and a hint of herbs.  Now and then I get a dusting of a cinnamon feel. 

As the wine opens up the earthy note changes from mossy to an easygoing rich soil feel.

Mouthfeel: a smooth leather texture with lingering dark berries and dark fruits on the palate.  A light dry feel on the aftertaste.

My Strength Rating: 4  - tannins and acidity are low and the flavors are tasty.

To the Point: a tasty wine to sit back and relax with friends or enemies.  This should make you friends then. 

Robert Mondavi 2009 Meritage: Review

Private Selection

13.5% abv

Blend: 41% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon,

11% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec, 3% Cab. Franc

Vinted & Bottled by: Robert Mondavi

Woodbridge, California, USA

mprivateselection.com

$10.00 a bottle

I bought this bottle at the fundraiser for Waggin’ Tails Dog Rescue

Appearance: deep purple with a nice purple edge

Aroma: mixed dark berries with a slight spice

Flavors: spice is right up front, touch of black pepper, hint of blackberry with a dose of boysenberry, there is a slight watery edge that hits the palate.   Once the wine opens a bit there is just a touch of mocha and a hint of coffee and I am going to add a note of Michigan Cherry.

Mouthfeel: smooth; dark berries dance on the tongue; feels a bit thin at first but fills in a little if you get it to breath. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – I was going to do a 4 but, the lingering berry notes said 4.5. 

To the Point: a nice medium bodied Meritage.  Not the most complex wine, a bit thin at first and then fills in a little as it breathes.  For $10.00 a bottle it is a good party wine or a good introductory wine for the newbie.

Hannah Nicole 2009 Viognier: Review

Contra Costa County

14.7% abv
$10.00 a bottle

Blend: 90% Viognier, 10% Sauvignon Blanc

Hannah Nicole Vineyards, Inc

Brentwood, California, USA

Hnvwines.com

Here is what they have to say on the bottle. “Our 2009 Viognier is 100% Stainless Steel Fermented, retaining the fresh clean aromas of Fuji Apple, pear and honeydew melon, that draw you into the crisp subtlety of pink grapefruit, and a kiss of honey on the finish.”

Appearance: wow, as close to water clear as one can get without being so.  Just a faint touch of straw.  A refreshingly beautiful look.

Aroma: fresh apple, slight twist of citrus, crisp

Flavors: apple, honeydew, touch of peach, apricot, pear, hint of floral, touch of honey, a dose of mineral rock water, and the pink grapefruit is what I get on the finish.  It has a splash of red and pink grapefruit that awakens the back of the palate.   

Mouthfeel: fresh and crisp on the deliver.  Citrusy and dry on the back of the palate and these notes linger on the tongue. 

My Strength Rating: 4 - because of the lingering dry notes

I like!

Front Porch Merlot 2007: Review

Napa Valley

C & T Cellars

Blend: Mostly Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon

“…wine to celebrate the simple pleasures in life…”

Appearance: garnet in color with ruby highlights.

Aroma: very aromatic, sweet cherries, berries, and spice.

Flavors: fruit forward and following the nose.  Reminds me of a mulberry or elderberry jam.  Don’t decant. 

Mouthfeel: smooth, lingering sweet berry patch, relaxing, I could sip this all night.

My Strength Rating: 3 – very tasty light bodied red.

To the Point: A perfect summertime red wine whether you are on the front porch or back.  I am on my back porch of my summer place and I may have to fight off a few hummingbirds for this tasty wine.

St. Francis 2005 Old Vines Zinfandel: Review

Pagani Vineyard Sonoma Valley

14.8% abv

St. Francis Winery

Santa Rosa, California, USA

Stfranciswinery.com

$55.00 at a restaurant / around $28 online

Appearance: an attractive deep purple

Aroma: nice mix of red and dark berries on the nose with a hint of spice box.

Flavors: Oh, a good cinnamon and nutmeg pie spice greets my palate.  A smooth dark cherry and mulberry likeness and a slight toasted vanilla oak note mixes with a creamy 60% like dark chocolate.  Very tasty. 

Mouthfeel: silky smooth as the wine glides across the tongue with a pleasing cherry-berry aftertaste.

My Strength Rating: 4.5

I think if you can find this wine for around $25 it is a good buy

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2008 Belle Glos: Review

The grapes to make this Pinot came from three different vineyards Sonoma County 65%, Monterey County 20%, and Santa Barbara County 15%.  It is said that the Santa Barbara grapes add to the spice-filled aromas; Sonoma adds to the bright berry flavors; and Monterey has the rich texture to give it some substance. 

13.9% abv – why not 14 – I feel cheated

Belle Glos Wines

Rutherford, California, USA

Meiomiwines.com

My Strength Rating: 3 – truly velvety smooth

Appearance: a rich ruby color

Aroma: red fruits, reminds me of the red raspberries I had for breakfast this morning. Overall, a pleasing aroma to this wine.    

Flavors: If you want to know what the term ‘fruit forward’ means – try this wine, for it is fruit forward.  Notes of; sweet strawberry, red currant, tasty raspberry to name a few.  

Mouthfeel: I really like the mouthfeel of this wine.  Creamy was my first word that came to mind.  Then, velvety smooth came to mind.  The mouthfeel on this Pinot Noir is a great experience. 

Here are the wine notes from their web site – I can’t wait to see how I did.

“Deep garnet color. Luxurious and dynamic aromas of ripe strawberry, bright cherry and faint notes of spicy oak and vanilla. The complexity of the palate smoothly layers rich red currant notes and baking spice flavors with light smoke, earth and leather. A balanced, velvety texture and supple tannins carry the wine through to a lingering, succulent finish.”

They call it deep garnet and I think it is a medium ruby at best

Triple Overtime 2006 Merlot: Review

Napa Valley

Igor Larionov Select Wines

St. Helena, California, USA

Iltripleovertime.com

Blend: 77% Merlot, 14% Cab Sauvignon, and 9% Franc.

14.6% abv

$20.00 a bottle

Appearance: rich ruby body

Aroma: a wonderful spicebox nose

Flavors: the spice follows the nose, dark and red currants, and plum. 

The second glass displays some more character.  I would recommend opening this bottle and letting it breathe for 15 or 20 minutes (decant) before serving just to get those flavors involved. 

The spice, currants, and plum are still present but, the earthy tones open up to a mushroom and mossy style.  There is also a smooth sweet mocha note in the mix.  

Mouthfeel: smooth, elegant, macho like finish with sweet dark cherry.  The acidity and tannins are low. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – This wine just glides across my tongue.  The weight is light and the flavors are plentiful.

To the Point: above average Merlot.  If you like smooth and medium bodied Merlot's this should work for you.  I would buy the Hattrick Reserve Merlot before this one. 

The Hattrick 2005 Reserve Merlot: Review

Igor Larionov Select Wines

Stags Leap District

Napa Valley

14.5% abv

$45.00

On the back of the bottle, “The Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc Exhibits a deep ruby – garnet color as well as dense, smoky black cherry flavors, medium to full body, soft tannins and plump finish.”

Iltripleovertime.com

Appearance: deep ruby it is

Aroma: smoky, dark berries, touch of oak

Flavors: earthy notes of rich soil and minerals, toasted oak, tobacco, black currants, I am not thinking of black cherry (sweet) it is more like a Michigan cherry (tart) especially on the finish,

Mouthfeel: smooth in delivery, a slight tartness on the back of the palate, a dry oaky note and dark berry like lingering note

My Strength Rating: 7  a very good medium-full bodied red wine.

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine

The cork reads, “Hockey is my life – wine is my passion”

Pirineos Mesache Tinto 2005: Review

13.5% abv

50% Old Vine Garnacha, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 10% Parraleta which is a rare grape from Somontano, Spain. 

Only $22.00 from a restaurant

Appearance: deep black cherry color

Aroma: there is a strong ‘old’ musty nose that is bothersome, some dark berries behind that musty smell.

Flavors: yep, the musty smell carries over to the main flavor.  The cork did not look bad but, this has that cork musty old wet wood note.  There are some berry notes mixed in here but, nothing special here. 

Buy: Nope, much better out there.